In 1984, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, then captain of the defunct New Nigerian Bank Football Club, Benin, was banned by the Nigeria Football Association from all football activities in Nigeria. Though extremely harsh, it was the catalyst that forced Keshi into exile, where he eventually settled in Cote d’ Ivoire. He starred for Stade Abidjan and Africa Sports Football Clubs before moving to Belgium and becoming Nigeria’s first professional football player in Europe.
The ban marked the beginning of his altercations with the Nigerian football governing body.
Despite his several issues with the nation’s football hierarchy, Keshi, as captain of the Super Eagles, superintended the national team to their best FIFA ranking, when Nigeria was rated the fifth best national team in the world in May 1994. It has remained the best for any African side.
Last Tuesday morning, a telephone call woke me up to the death of Nigeria’s longest serving captain at the age of 54 in Benin City, and I still wish it is all a nightmare.
Consequently, things have never been the same since the sad news, as memories of the coach and life questions keep flooding my mind.
Sadly, Nigerians, by nature, are not known for celebrating their legends, heroes or successful sporting sons when they are alive. But tributes are poured on the deaths of heroes.
Incidentally, after burial, the legacies of the heroes past are quickly forgotten and that further makes Keshi’s death more disturbing.
Keshi has become the fifth member of the golden generation of the 1994 Eagles to die. I was a member of that generation.
Just weeks ago, we celebrated the fourth anniversary of the death of another legend, Rashidi Yekini. The anniversary went without due celebration, which underlined my earlier stance on the efforts of our heroes past. We also lost Uche Okafor, Thompson Oliha and Wilfred Agbonivbare, who all sacrificed so much for the country.
During his playing days, Keshi was strong, a good passer of the ball, strong in aerial balls, initiator of attacks from behind, scored goals, motivated the team and always wanted to win, even at training sessions. That mentality guided him to win the Africa Cup of Nations as captain in 1994.
His success was not limited to his playing era, as Keshi achieved so much as a coach, becoming only the second person to win the foremost African title both as player and coach.
As a coach, Keshi qualified both Nigeria (as assistant to Amodu) and Togo to the World Cup in two different times, even though he regrettably did not lead any of the countries to the final proper.
Today, so many, who had disagreements with Keshi over his tough stance on the welfare of his team (both when he was Eagles captain and when he coached the team) are singing his praises and how he transformed Nigerian football.
They will soon forget him and even forget to acknowledge his death’s anniversary. This will indeed be sad.
Personally, I was privileged to play with and for Keshi for so many years in the Super Eagles. I was eventually his captain and he was my coach in the Eagles.
It was an exceptional relationship, maybe because we came from the same state, or because I was a hard-working defensive midfielder in front of him, or because his late wife liked me like a younger brother or simply because, most probably, he had a great heart. I guess I will never know.
Keshi taught me a lot, for which I will be eternally grateful. Some by his incessant advices and direction, but most of all, by just watching and observing him at work.
Keshi was a very direct and vocal person, who, three years ago, publicly chastised me for questioning his team line up at the Confederations Cup in Brazil as a coach.
He, however, pacified me sometime later as a typical elder brother when we spoke on telephone.
Nigeria has lost one of its greatest sons and ambassadors worldwide, but should it want to produce more in the future, it has to immortalise Keshi and not just verbally but monumentally. That way, the upcoming ones will have something to work up to.
Keshi may have gone, but in our hearts “Skippo” will forever live on. God bless you Steve and thanks for everything, though you never liked me. Thanks big Bro, we miss you already.